Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Military
Flagpoles and Memorial Benches to be dedicated Oct. 2 in Huntington,
W.Va.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va., Sept. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National treasure and war hero,
Hershel "Woody" Williams, the last surviving WWII Medal of Honor
recipient, would have been 101 this October 2nd. In
commemoration of that special day, The Woody Williams Foundation
and the Southside Preservation and Enhancement Alliance (SPEA) will
continue making Woody's dying wish a reality with Phase 2, as the
US Flag, Military Branch Flags, and black granite Memorial Benches
will now be dedicated in a noon ceremony, Oct. 2nd. The establishment of the Gold Star
Families Memorial Monument in Huntington,
W.Va., was dedicated on October 2,
2023, with hundreds in attendance. New parking as well as
enhanced lighting and Iandscaping are also now in place.
A Gold Star Family is a family or family member who lost a loved
one in military service.
Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel Woody Williams salutes Gold
Star Families on his 90th Birthday, Oct 2,
2013, at the dedication of the first-in-the-nation Gold Star
Families Memorial Monument in Dunbar,
W.Va. Williams Co-Founded the nonprofit along with his
grandsons, Brent Casey and
Bryan Casey. To date, the Foundation
has dedicated nearly 150 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments
across the U.S.
Guest speakers for the October
2023 event included U.S. Senator Joe
Manchin and Congresswoman Carol
Miller. American country music artist and legend
Lee Greenwood, as well as the
Broadway star of Les Miserables, Mark
McVey, performed in front of the especially large
crowd.
Williams, who had resided in the Huntington area, wrote a proposal to the
City of Huntington a month before
his June 29, 2022, passing,
requesting their consideration to honor KY-OH-WV Tri-State Gold
Star Families with the memorial monument. Upon Woody's passing, the
SPEA, a Huntington nonprofit,
immediately took up the cause. Now, in 2024, the group wraps
up the final phase of the project.
Brent Casey, Williams' grandson,
Board Member of The Woody Williams Foundation, and Co-Owner
of Valor Coins and Pins said, "Just as my grandfather Woody wished,
the Gold Star Families in the Huntington area must never be forgotten. We
must always remember and honor their sacrifice; and his wish became
a reality on what would be his 100th birthday. If he were
here with us today, this is exactly what he would say he wished for
on his birthday. Woody would be incredibly pleased to know we
have now completed the project." Valor Coins and Pins,
Brent and Bryan Casey, are very
proud sponsors and supporters of this special event.
Bryan Casey and Brent Casey founded the Woody Williams
Foundation on Woody's 90th birthday. The Woody Williams Foundation,
a 501c3, forever changed the landscape for Gold Star Families.
Since 2013, the Woody Williams Foundation has dedicated nearly 150
Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in all 50 states and
Guam. There are nearly 60
memorial monuments in progress across the U.S. The Foundation will
continue to carry forward the legacy of Woody Williams, to recognize, honor, and serve
Gold Star Families.
About Valor Coins and Pins: they are a different kind of
Challenge Coin company. A company with a cause and a purpose. Valor
Coins is a Cause-Driven, Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small
Business. Bryan and Brent
Casey started Valor Coins seven years ago to help support
their grandfather, Medal of Honor recipient, Hershel Woody Williams and his mission to honor
Gold Star families. Valor Coins is a proud supporter of The Woody
Williams Foundation, as well as many other military nonprofits, and
supporters such as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the
National Medal of Honor Museum, the NYSE, and Gary Sinise
Foundation.
Media contact: Brent Casey,
brent.casey@woodywilliams.org
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/last-surviving-medal-of-honor-recipient-of-wwii-woody-williams-last-dying-wish-to-honor-gold-star-families-continues-as-military-flagpoles-and-benches-dedicated-302251000.html
SOURCE Valor Coins and Pins